Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers Face Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Sunrise

Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers Face Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Sunrise

Well, yeah, it’s exciting. I mean, anytime you play a team uh in playoffs, especially a couple years, um, you know, close together, that that’s where rivalries are built and and uh um obviously we’re two teams that uh should both be doing a little bit better than we are and and you know, you’re looking to build your game. Um they’re looking to do the same and just seems like the intensity in these games always rise a little bit. Uh so it should be a good one. Um, you know, more most importantly, we just, you know, the points are huge right now and and, uh, uh, you can’t take a game off. Um, you know, so we get to get back to playing the right way for 60 minutes. What do you remember most about that series against him last year? You know, they were they were one goal away from from beating us. Um, essentially, you know, it’s hard to come back when you’re down three nothing. Um, you know, and and and they compete very hard. They’re very deep. uh their defensive structure is way better now than it it was in the past. Um you know, they’re battling some injuries, stuff like that, which affects your your overall game and your and your uh uh your consistency and and just, you know, how comfortable you are with with your linemates and everything. So, you know, we’re going through the same thing. So, we’re both trying to find our game, but they’re they’re obviously still a very good contending team. In Toronto, when you sit out of a playoff spot at this point, the world is ending, but here I get the impression you guys are just kind of part for the course and confidence in got to be 25 games in. If you think that the your playoff dreams are done, 25 games in, you got bigger problems. Um, you know, I know they don’t think that in the room. Um, you know, it’s just obviously with the media attention and the fan support they have in Toronto, they’re, you know, things get blown way out of proportion up there. Um, but yeah, they definitely don’t think that in the room. What are they? Four points out of playoff spot or if people are thinking they’re out of playoff spot for the season, they got to find a new job. Speaking of finding your game, Paul was talking yesterday. Right now, you guys are kind of in that mode where how much how much defense can we sacrifice for offense and vice versa. How close do you guys feel like you are to finding kind of the perfect balance right now? Uh yeah, I mean it’s just it seems like we have some lapses in the game that um some mistakes we we got to clean up. It’s things we’re working through. I think we’re right there. Like we’re right there. We’re not too worried about it. Just you know, you go back to the drawing board after every game. there’s things you want to improve upon and you know early in the season you’re trying to build your foundation and um work on different things and find different chemistry especially with the amount of guys we have with the lineup. So yeah, we’ll just keep working through it and and not every game is going to be pretty but we got to find a way to call points. Does it get frustrating sometimes though being up in these games two nothing and then couple quickies and Yeah, I mean it’s just not acceptable, right? That that’s how it is. like we’re we’re better than that and you know it starts with me last game. You know I turn a puck over it’s two nothing. We’re in control and you know the m momentum changes. So um you know it’s just understanding that uh a single play is enough to uh impact the game in a negative way or positive way and just doing our job. And I think that’s why we’ve been really good. Um, and why we’ve had success as a group is because we we value the little details that most teams don’t and and most players don’t. Um, and especially down the stretch in playoffs, that’s where you win. You don’t win by, you know, threeon twos and odd man rushes. It’s not where the game’s won. Um, so yeah, we just couldn’t get back to doing that all the game. The turnover you just referenced, Aaron was just telling us you kind of put the team on your back. What do you like the most about the start of your season? Yeah, I yeah, obviously appreciate him saying that. I don’t I don’t think that’s the case. No, you know, nobody wins this league um without a a a full group and um you know, we just have a lot of depth and and I think you’re seeing that right now with the guys that are out, different guys stepping up and um but obviously like playing with Lundy and Lucy, we just feel so comfortable together um as a line and and and just the way we connect and can read off each other. We have a lot of fun out there. So, um, it’s great that we’re able to pick back up where we left off as a line and and just continue to build on that. You know, obviously it’s unfortunate what happened to Lucy. Um, you know, obviously feel really bad and just such a freak accident, but um, you know, luckily he’s okay and back soon. You mentioned the injuries they’ve had. They got Austin back last week and he scored his first goal since returning on Saturday. What’s the matchups like against him overall? What’s the challenge you see matched up against him? Uh, you know, I think he’s he’s focusing more uh 200 foot game. Um, you know, and and he’s he’s playing more physically uh more physical defensively. I think that’s one of the things I really noticed about him last year. He was much more reliable uh much tougher to play against in in his end of the ice than in years past. Um, you know, and and I mean, good for him. He he easily could have worried about, you know, cheating and scoring goals and and chasing 60 plus goals every year. But, you know, to do that, to play that way, he’s going to have to sacrifice scoring um maybe the way he did in the past. And and yeah, so, you know, that’s what you have to do to win. That’s part of why they were such a good team last year and why they had that that success. Um so, yeah, it you know, I think that’s that’s one of the things that uh you know, where he improved his game last year for sure was 200 on a foot game. Obviously, when he gets a puck and he’s in the offensive zone, he’s very dangerous and and he can make you pay, but um yeah, much more reliable. How was Thanksgiving dinner? I guess you had you’re playing host this year down here. Yeah. Uh yeah, we yeah, my wife wanted to host. Um she’s kind of crazy cuz we moved in a new place a week ago. Okay. Uh so I don’t know what she’s thinking there, but um yeah, so we we hosted the group. Well, the guy, you know, the guys that didn’t have family or didn’t have people in town. Uh we had a good crew over um and it was a it was it was a big success. I like I said I I couldn’t believe when she said she wanted to host and we just moved in. Uh I thought she was joking but um yeah it was a lot of fun. I mean those are those are great opportunities to get together as a group and have some fun together and you know forget about the game. Um it’s always fun to connect with the different families, see the kids all run around together and uh you know build those bonds. So a lot of fun. Anyone make a pass or do any damage to the new place? Uh, I mean, if anyone’s going to, it’s going to be my kids. You know, they’re the problems in the group. So, uh, no, it was it was a lot of fun and and, uh, everyone took care of the place. Yeah. Thanks, for like

Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand meets the media after his team’s practice in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

The Panthers play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday; Florida is coming off a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Against Calgary, Florida led 2-0 early only to see the Flames score the next four goals — then add an empty-netter with 1:03 remaining for the comeback win.

Evan Rodrigues, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand each scored for Florida; Daniil Tarasov made 29 saves.

Florida has lost three straight at home.

Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / @FlaPanthers / Panthers Vision

The Panthers Have Done It Again, Repeat as Cup Champs: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-2025/

Panthers Get Their New Rings. Yeah, They Nice: https://floridahockeynow.com/stanley-cup-champion-florida-panthers-get-rings-yeah-they-nice/

Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/

For the most in-depth coverage of the Florida Panthers:
— Visit Florida Hockey Now — https://floridahockeynow.com

— Subscribe to Florida Hockey Now: https://floridahockeynow.com/membership-account/subscribe-to-fhn/

— Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flahockeynow/

— On Bluesky:

* https://bsky.app/profile/georgerichards.bsky.social

—Follow us on Twitter: 

* https://twitter.com/GeorgeRichards

* https://twitter.com/thegovman

Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panther Vision